Love the Coopers

Love the Coopers is a heartwarming and comedic holiday movie from 2015, featuring an ensemble cast starring Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, and John Goodman. Laced with an equal balance of laughter and poignant moments, the film offers a relatable tale of love, laughter, and family togetherness, sprinkled with the magic of Christmas.

Directed by Jessie Nelson and scripted by Steven Rogers, Love the Coopers evolves around the Cooper family, filled with its own squabbles, secrets, and long-forgotten affections. The matriarch and patriarch are Charlotte and Sam Cooper, adeptly played by Diane Keaton and John Goodman, respectively, a couple whose long-term marriage is on the brink of separation. As they host their annual Christmas Eve dinner, they decide to hide their marital crisis from the family in order to preserve the holiday spirit.

The movie smartly weaves together intertwined storylines of the couples' grown-up children, their granddaughter, the eccentric Aunt Fishy, and other unique characters. Each one is coping with their own set of challenges and yearnings – from loneliness to the quest for true love, and finding purpose in life to dealing with heartbreak.

Steve Martin functions as the unseen narrator, injecting perfectly-timed humor and witty commentary throughout the film, while giving audience insights into the characters’ thoughts and feelings. Using an intergenerational lens, Love the Coopers provides a rich exploration of relationships, personal dreams, and the inevitable trials of life.

Keaton brings her trademark warmth and charisma to Charlotte, showcasing the depth of a woman grappling with the weight of her failing marriage, the expectations of presenting a perfect Christmas, and the divergent paths her children have chosen. Goodman, as Sam, offers a performance imbued with tenderness and frustration, masterfully presenting a man longing to rekindle the spark in his love life and bring his fragmented family closer.

The Cooper children, Eleanor played by Olivia Wilde and Hank played by Ed Helms, add additional emotional depth and complexity to the narrative. Eleanor is a restless wanderer, emotionally detached from her family, while Hank, a recent divorcee, is trying to balance his new life and fatherhood.

The film also shines through its supporting characters and subplots. Aunt Fishy, enacted by June Squibb, adds flavor to the narrative with her eccentricities and comical dialogue delivery. Marisa Tomei, as Charlotte's sister Emma, anchors one of the film's most heartfelt storylines, while Alan Arkin as Bucky, the Cooper's father, shares a sweet bond with Ruby, a waitress at his favourite diner, played by Amanda Seyfried. Their story is a reminder of how deep connections may be found in the most unexpected places.

Love the Coopers successfully blends humor with sentimentality, indulging viewers in a hearty mix of chuckles, tears, and a generous dash of the Christmas spirit. The screenplay is packed with clever, sharp dialogue that reflects the humor and the heartaches that often come hand-in-hand with family gatherings. Nelson directs the film with a sweet, sentimental touch, ensuring that each character gets their fair share of narrative development and screen time.

The setting, blanketed in snow and decorated with twinkling Christmas lights, coupled with the movie's delightful soundtrack, is enough to imbue the audience with a festive feel. At its heart, Love the Coopers is a visual holiday card unfolding slowly, delving into the chaos and charm of family dynamics.

This film is a worth-seeing Christmas comedy-drama that deals with the vast spectrum of familial love, bittersweet nostalgia, and the enduring hope that underscores the holiday season. Its star-studded cast, relatable narratives, and careful blend of comedy, drama, and festivity positions Love the Coopers as a perfect pick for those seeking a warm, fun-filled holiday film with the right mix of laughter and tears.

With Love the Coopers, audience members are sure to appreciate the message that despite the disagreements, mistakes and complexities that families are often beset with, in the end, it's the love that binds them together that truly counts. It reminds us that even amid the messiness of life and family, moments of love, forgiveness, and togetherness are what make the holiday season truly uplifting and magical.